25. Dallas Stars

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

It'll Only Get Worse

With the blazing start the Dallas Stars got off to a year ago, many expected the team to cruise to a Pacific Division Title and make a cute postseason run. Instead, the Stars completed collapsed after suffering multiple injuries, most notably to star center Brad Richards.

Well, Brad Richards won't be there in the fall, and the players Dallas got to replace him aren't quite up to the task.

Couple that with the fact that the team still does not have an owner, and things are looking pretty bleak down in Texas.

23. Chris Pronger

Has age finally caught up to Chris Pronger? Well, when a guy fails to appear in at least 65 games for the first time since the 2002-2003 season, something isn't right.

The wrist injury Pronger suffered is one that is likely to linger for the rest of his life, and considering his age, it will certainly continue to effect him on the ice even after surgery. Not to mention the chance of re-injuring the wrist.

That being said, when healthy Pronger can still play with the best of them, and he has shown no signs of slowing down.

The Flyers can expect him to miss some games this season, but his on ice performance will remain on par with what they have come to expect.

22. Tomas Kaberle

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Stuck In Neutral

After the big trading deadline deal that brought Tomas Kaberle to Boston for what was essentially a King's Ransom, the talented puck moving defenseman proceeded to be one of the most useless players for the Bruins for the remainder of the season.

Despite his lackluster performance, Kaberle got a big pay day in free agency, signing a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes for an annual cap hit of around $4.25 million. So, will he rebound?

Something tells me Kaberle's heart is stuck in Toronto, and he will just continue to mail it in the rest of his career. The efforts he put forth throughout the 2011 NHL Playoffs were enough to convince me that this guy just doesn't play inspired hockey.

21. Corey Crawford

Anytime a young goaltender bursts onto the scene these days one has to wonder whether or not they will continue their success the following season.

We've seen Steve Mason, Antti Niemi and Jaroslav Halak all stall out a bit after impressive breakout seasons.

Next in line is Chicago Blackhawks' backstop Corey Crawford, who was outstanding in Chicago's opening round loss to the Vancouver Canucks. To me, he stands to benefit from the experience but will also remain hungry, having not accomplished anything really in his young career.

The team around Crawford continues to grow stronger, and he will only become a better goaltender because of it.

20. The Buffalo Sabres

Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

Rebound

After pushing the Philadelphia Flyers to the brink of elimination, the Buffalo Sabres have re-tooled their roster and are set to come back even stronger in 2011-2012.

Before, Buffalo was relying on their young talent and superstar goaltender to get them into the playoffs. Now, with the additions of Christian Ehrhoff, Robyn Reghr and Ville Leino, the Sabres have some experienced veterans to balance out the team.

18. Jaromir Jagr

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Rebound

One of the most heavily scrutinized signing of this offseason's free agent frenzy was the $3.3 million contract given to Jaromir Jagr by the Philadelphia Flyers. However, Paul Holmgren could prove to be a genius on this one.

Everyone wants to point out that Jagr is no longer capable of putting up 90 to 100 points and lighting the lamp on a nightly basis. This is completely true, but also the reason that Jagr's contract pays him $3.3 million instead of north of five.

If Jagr can come in and produce between 50 and 70 points while helping out the powerplay with his experience and mentoring some of the young talent on Philly's roster, the signing will be an overwhelming success.

If he cannot do any of that, the Flyers are only locked into one year with the Czech forward.

15. Marty Turco

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Stuck In Neutral

After being one of the most sought after goaltenders on the free-agent market a year ago, Marty Turco was shown the bench for a solid portion of the 2010-2011 campaign due to the emergence of Corey Crawford.

Meanwhile, Turco is still unsigned at this point and figures to be nothing more than a very average backup goaltender going forward if he even continues to play.

12. Toronto Maple Leafs

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Rebound

Is this the year Brian Burke's Toronto Maple Leafs finally get over the hump and become a playoff team? He better hope so because this is certainly his last shot at success before patience begins to run seriously thin among the Toronto faithful.

That being said, I expect the Leafs to make a run at the postseason this year. The youngsters have another season to grow, Phil Kessel finally has his center and the franchise goaltender is in place.

10. Philadelphia Flyers

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Rebound

The Flyers were a question mark even before the offseason hoopla began. Philly cruised through the regular season only to be swept by the Boston Bruins after being pushed the brink of elimination by the Buffalo Sabres.

They played uninspired hockey for much of the second half and failed to put anything together in the playoffs.

Then came the frenzy of moves Paul Holmgren and the front office put into action. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards have both been traded, Ville Leino was let go, and role players Kris Versteeg, Daryl Powe and Dan Carcillo have found new homes as well.

The result is a completely different roster than the team had a year ago.

So what will become of the Philadelphia Flyers? That is possibly the biggest question heading into next season. Philly should still be a playoff team, but expecting them to beat out the Penguins for the division is a tall task.

It will be easier to gauge the Flyers once we have seen all of the new faces on the ice at the same time.

7. Marian Gaborik

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Rebound

Marian Gaborik has the talent to be one of the five best players in the National Hockey League. Unfortunately, due to injuries and the talent around him, Marian Gaborik has never been able to put it all together.

Now, Brad Richards will be his center, and Gaborik will be fully healthy. There are no more excuses. Provided both of them can stay healthy, Gaborik should have a monster season for the blue shirts.

6. New Jersey Devils

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Rebound

There was no more Jekyll and Hyde team last season than the New Jersey Devils. The club started the season off on a horrid pace. Injuries and disappointing play from superstars made the Devils one of the worst teams in hockey.

Then, something clicked. In the second half the Devils were a much better team, but it was too little too late.

Now, New Jersey has a fresh start, and it should pay dividend. Expect the Devils to carry some of that momentum from last season into the 2011-2012 campaign.

5. Alex Ovechkin

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Rebound

If there is going to be an argument about who the league's best player is, Alexander Ovechkin has to be able to hit 90 points year in and year out, and he absolutely has to get it done in the postseason.

Ovechkin's point decrease was more than just him focusing on defense too, because the Russian superstar saw a significant drop in plus minus as well.

Let's chalk up last season to an anomale and expect big things from the Great No. 8 this season.

4. Ilya Kovalchuk

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Rebound

After what the New Jersey Devils went through to acquire and keep Ilya Kovalchuk, 60 points is an unacceptable output for the Russian goalscorer.

Like Ovechkin, let's consider this one a bit of a fluke. Zach Parise went down with injury and the entire Devils' team was a bit out of whack. With a fresh start, Kovalchuk should be able to get back to 80-point form.

1. Sidney Crosby

Remember when Sidney Crosby was on a torrid pace and on his way to a career year? Yeah, neither does anybody else.

All of the talk surrounding the Penguins this offseason has been about how Sidney Crosby will rebound from his injury and whether or not he will ever be the same player again.

Sure, a severe concussion is definitely reason for concern, but we're talking about the most gifted hockey player in the world. He has had plenty of time to recoup and collect himself after the two concussions he suffered a year ago.

Should Crosby suffer another head injury, there will be cause for alarm. However, for now he is still hockey's best player and will continue to be until further notice.